The room appeared to be different. It was clean. Well, cleaner than it was. Something black tucked away in the corner caught her attention. She reached down and picked up the piece of lacey fabric. It was one of her teddies, and it looked like a wild animal had gotten ahold of it, ripped into pieces.
Baby splashed cold water on her face, sparking the memory of the bathtub and the freezing water. Her muscles ached, leaving her feeling as if she had been beaten with a baseball bat. Grabbing her silk robe off the hook behind the door, she wrapped it around herself, and then piled her hair on top of her head, clipping it in place.
Water. It was hard to swallow with the cottonmouth. Her cracked lips were dry and her throat was parched. She inched her way to the kitchen and noticed it had been cleaned as well. Peeking around the corner, Baby stopped dead when she found Lucky dozing on the couch. He sat upright with his boots kicked up on the coffee table. Both arms folded across his chest, and his head leaned back against the wall.
Confused, Baby stepped closer. She sucked in a huge puff of air and held her breath. What is he doing here? Lucky hated her. Damn, she wasn’t prepared to deal with shit. She tried to leave the room without waking him, but backed right into the side table and bumped the couch, sending Lucky’s head to the side.
He blinked a couple of times before spotting Baby. “You’re up.”
“Umm, yeah. What are you doing here?” She tried to move, but her bare feet were cemented in place.
“I’ve been here for two days. Do you remember anything?”
She shook her head slowly, staring at the floor, unable to take the look on his face.
His eyes were different, softer, and gentler. “Why don’t you sit down? Do you need something?”
Surprised by his concern, Baby moved to the couch and sat on the end opposite of Lucky.
“My mouth is dry. Maybe water?”
Before she finished the words, Lucky was up and moving around in the kitchen. He handed her a glass of warm tap water. “Sip slowly. You don’t want to get sick again.”
Baby glanced up. “Again?” That explained the sore throat.
Lucky nodded.
Tears welled in Baby’s green eyes. “I’m sorry.” The words came out in a whisper.
Lucky stooped to the floor, his hands on Baby’s knees. He peered up into her face. “Hey, you don’t have to be sorry. I should be apologizing to you. I bailed on you when you needed someone. I promised you I wouldn’t leave you, and I let you down.”
Tears streamed down Baby’s frail face. She took a small sip from the glass, allowing the water to soothe her throat. Her body craved the moisture, and the liquid tasted good, Baby took a second drink, and then a third, which proved to be too much. Her stomach pitched. She shot up from the couch and bolted toward the bathroom.
Not wanting Lucky to see her hunched over the toilet, she reached up to lock the door in time.
The doorknob twisted. “Baby, don’t do that. Let me in.”
Unable to speak, Baby’s body heaved relentlessly, leaving her breathless. Sweat broke out across her forehead and behind her neck.
“Open the door. You might pass out. I’m gonna kick the damn thing in.” Lucky’s panicked tone assured her he was serious.
Dragging her limp body up from the floor, Baby unlocked the door right before collapsing into Lucky.
“Shit!” One of his strong arms whipped around her waist while he slipped the other one under her legs. He carried her back to the bed and tucked her in under the sheet. Lucky disappeared and then returned with a wet washcloth and the small trashcan from the bathroom. “I’m gonna put this right beside the bed. You’re probably gonna need it.”
Baby’s heart raced like it was about to jump right out of her chest. Her head thumped against her skull. “Why are you doing this?”
“Do you seriously need me to answer that?”
“You probably want a good fuck, like everyone else. Go ahead, climb on in,” Baby sneered and threw back the sheet.
Lucky stood and stepped back from the bed. “I’m gonna ignore that because I know it’s the drugs talking and not you.” The wounded look in his eyes pissed her off.
“I don’t need your fucking pity. Get OUT!” She picked up the lamp from the end table and hurled it in Lucky’s direction, sending it crashing into the wall. “Can’t you take a damn hint? Get the fuck OUT!”
His eyes narrowed, drawing hard lines across his forehead. His mouth twisted, Lucky backed out of the room. He pulled the door behind him, leaving it cracked. She saw his boot cross the doorway as he slid down the wall, apparently refusing to leave her alone.
She wanted to be angry with him, but something stirred in her gut knowing he was right outside the door. Why the hell is here? The question must have run through her head a hundred times before passing out.
***
Baby drifted in and out of sleep with no concept of time. She didn’t know if an hour had passed or a day. Every part of her body screamed out in pain. She had evidently made good use of the trashcan. Towels scattered the floor. A glass sat on the end table where the lamp had once been. She tried to pick it up, but her trembling hands couldn’t grasp the glass, sending it to the floor.
Lucky jumped up and barreled into the room. “Are you ok?”
Her insides pitched back and forth, but there was nothing left to throw up. “I’m fine. Why are you still here?”
“I’m not leaving. You can be a bitch all you want, I’m staying.” Lucky defiantly shoved his hands into his jean pockets.
Baby rolled her eyes, pretending he didn’t have an effect on her. “Whatever.” She moved to the dresser and stripped away the silk robe, slipping an old Talking Heads t-shirt over her head. She dug through the top drawer. She opened the second one and did the same thing. Finally, she pulled out the drawers and dumped the contents onto the floor.
“What are you looking for?”
Baby Jade ignored the question and dumped out the drawer from the end table next to the bed. She rushed to the bathroom and rummaged through the cabinets.
Lucky filled the doorway, placing his hands above his head, grasping onto the frame. “You’re not gonna find anything.”
Baby glared at him, her eyes dark. She tried to scratch away the craving¸ making her skin raw on her arms. “What did you do with it?”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s gone.” His stone face gave no expression to give her a clue.
“I’ll call Slade,” she spewed settling her hands on both hips.
“He won’t answer. He couldn’t care less about you. He didn’t give a shit. He would have left you to die in that nasty ass bathroom. He’s gonna do everything he can to distance himself from you. For a while, at least.”
“Shit.” Baby examined the room trying to think about all her hiding places. She was at a loss. Something in her snapped and she went back to the only thing she knew.
Baby stepped closer to Lucky and dropped to her knees. “Come on, I’ll help you feel good and then you can help me feel good.” She fumbled with the top of his jeans.
Lucky gripped her wrists and slumped to the floor. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” He pulled her in and wrapped his arms around her.
She fought him, trying to pull away. She pounded her fists against his chest. The drugs helped take away the pain. Her loss. The shame and grief.
He held her close, whispering calming words. “Baby, it’s ok. It’s ok. I’ve got you and I’m not going anywhere.”
She pleaded with him. “I wanna feel good. Don’t you wanna feel good?” She buried her face and planted kisses on his neck, moving her way to his chest.
“Not like this, I don’t. Stop. This isn’t you.”
Baby sobbed and clutched his shirt, begging. “Please, it hurts. Please make it stop. I don’t want to hurt anymore.” She collapsed onto his lap.